Pace dedicates newly named Delgado Stadium

Tuesday, February 27, 2018 0 Comments

By Raquel Edmundson, Special to The Miami Laker

Monsignor Edward Pace High School (Pace) recently celebrated the dedication and ribbon cutting ceremony of the newly-named baseball field. The stadium now displays the name Delgado Stadium Spartan Field, a contribution made possible by the generosity of two Pace Alumni.

Danny Delgado, a 1997 Pace graduate, was the pitcher of the Spartan varsity baseball team before joining the Seattle Mariners for 6 years. He eventually retired due to a shoulder injury and is now a thriving real estate investor.

His wife, Kristina Bergolla-Delgado is also a Pace alumna from the class of 1998. She was the captain of the Pace cheerleading team, is a former attorney and now a successful health and fitness coach with Team Beachbody.

In 2015, the high school sweethearts realized that together they wanted to begin a journey of philanthropy. They decided that the best place to start would be at the place where their story and relationship began.

They reached out to their high school alma mater and together with Pace’s Director of Development, Celia Rouco, the couple worked to achieve Delgado’s dream of leaving behind a legacy for future Spartans and their two young children, Marli and DJ.

“It is a blessing to have alumni with a spirit of giving like Danny and Kristina who believe in Catholic education, and how they will be able to impact the lives of young students,” said Rouco.

For months, they worked out the details and anxiously looked forward to finally seeing their name above the baseball stadium entrance. They did not stop there, as they felt it would be important to make sure they could provide the gift of Catholic education to future Spartans, and established an academic scholarship for deserving students. On February 10, surrounded by family and friends, the school celebrated this proud moment with a ribbon cutting ceremony, coincidentally on Delgado’s 40th birthday.

Making this day even more special was the presence of someone who watched Delgado’s career take flight, head coach Tom Duffin, who alongside the Pace baseball team in their pin-striped uniforms, were there to share in the joyful occasion.

“I got to play on this field for four amazing years, some of the best years of my life,” said Delgado. “Under these lights is where it all made sense.”

Following his injury that unfortunately ended his professional career, he felt a great void. Giving back to the place where he met his wife and propelled his career, Delgado said “Looking up and seeing my family’s last name, I know I will forever be linked to the game that I love.”

He reminded young athletes that the game of baseball has a “shelf life,” whether that might be at the high school, collegiate or professional level. He encouraged them to enjoy each day while always playing their absolute best.

The collective of Pace is grateful to know that they were able to share in this chapter of the Delgado family’s story and to have been able to witness the dream of leaving behind an indelible legacy for future Spartan generations.